2016 Jeep Patriot Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe the engine cutting out or stalling while driving, sometimes with a loss of power steering assist, and many link it to a crankshaft sensor; several reference a crankshaft/camshaft sensor recall that their vehicle was not included in. A second common thread is hesitant or jerky acceleration and throttle-related warnings, and complaints also cover transmission shift concerns, airbag warnings, and cooling/catalytic converter faults. Reports span a wide mileage range, from low-mileage 2016 vehicles to well over 100,000 miles.

1. 1
   Engine

   Engine stalls or cuts out while driving

   • 142 complaints (31%)
   • median 58,160 mi at 4.0 yrs old (83 state mileage)
   • filed 2016–2026

   Complaints describe the engine shutting off without warning at highway, city and stop-light speeds, often forcing owners to coast to the shoulder and restart after a pause. Some report losing power steering assist at the same moment, and some say the vehicle would not restart right away. Several owners were told by a mechanic or dealer that the crankshaft position sensor had failed, and several note that a crankshaft/camshaft sensor recall existed but their vehicle was not covered. Reported from as little as around 18,000 miles up to about 130,000, with many cases in the 60,000-100,000 mile range.

   Recall 16V907000

   What to check: Ask whether the crankshaft/camshaft sensor work described in recall 16V907000 has been performed on this vehicle, since coverage depends on build date. Note any instance of the engine quitting mid-drive and have the crankshaft position sensor checked.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle loses power and/or stalls while driving, even at high speeds. Vehicle stalled several times when stopped. I had to let car sit for a few minutes before it would restart. Lost acceleration at low speeds, especially after turning a corner and beginning to accelerate. You press on the gas and nothing happens. This also happened several times on the highway going 60mph. Luckily it kicked back in. There is a recall on the same year Patriot s89 for the crankshaft sensor, which was the exact problem on my Patriot. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11326488, filed 2020-05, 49,200 miles

   “Vehicle is stalling without warning at low or high speeds, with loss of brake assist and steering assist. Multiple visits to dealer have not solved the problem as dealer claims he can not duplicate. In several of the stalling incidents, a critically hazardous condition was created. Stall has occurred both in straight line travel and in turns at intersections.”

   NHTSA complaint #11373870, filed 2020-11, 89,125 miles
2. 2
   Vehicle speed control

   Hesitation, jerking and loss of acceleration

   • 134 complaints (29%)
   • median 50,000 mi at 4.0 yrs old (86 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $775 (median of 8 quotes)
   • filed 2016–2026

   Owners describe the vehicle hesitating, jerking or failing to accelerate when the gas pedal is pressed, sometimes limiting speed or leaving the pedal unresponsive, with the lightning-bolt throttle light and check engine light coming on. Complaints mention problems when pulling away from a stop, on highway on-ramps, and while coasting or climbing. Some were told by a dealer that nothing was wrong or that the behavior was normal, while others had a diagnosis of an electronic throttle control failure. Mostly reported between roughly 20,000 and 70,000 miles, often when accelerating from low speed or onto a highway.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: During a test drive, watch for hesitation or a delayed pedal response when accelerating from a stop or onto a highway. Ask whether any throttle-body or pedal codes were found and whether the dealer performed any module reconfiguration.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Driving on the interstate at highway speed the red lightning bolt warning light came on, as did the check engine and traction control lights and the accelerator cut out. I was able to coast across 3 lanes to the side of the road, but this has happened three times and apparently my 2016 Patriot wasn't included in the recall that addressed this issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #11322617, filed 2020-04, 62,000 miles

   “My 2016 Jeep Patriot hesitates and jerks when I step on the gas pedal. Sometimes it will not go over 40 MPH. When I stop then let off the brake the vehicle jumps forward without stepping on the gas pedal. It runs sluggish. There are three lights on the dashboard lite up. The engine light, the lightning bolt and the traction light.”

   NHTSA complaint #11324828, filed 2020-05, 40,000 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission shudder, hard shifts or failure

   • 66 complaints (14%)
   • median 54,000 mi at 4.1 yrs old (40 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2026

   Complaints describe jerking between gears, a pause before the vehicle surges forward, RPM flaring without corresponding acceleration, and in some cases the vehicle no longer moving and needing a transmission replacement. Owners report multiple dealer visits where the problem could not be duplicated, and some note stored codes for a pressure control solenoid or incorrect gear ratio. Typically reported between about 38,000 and 115,000 miles, often during steady-speed or uphill driving.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Drive the vehicle at steady speed and on a hill to feel for shudder or delayed shifts, and ask whether any transmission-related codes have been stored or fluid serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was coming out of a stop getting ready to get into the turning lane for the interstate ramp and when I pressed the gas the car barely moved but the RPM shot up and was revving. Came to a full stop and put car in park and it made a very loud noise. Put back in drive and seemed to be normal.”

   NHTSA complaint #11342465, filed 2020-07, 85,000 miles

   “I was stopped at a red light after exiting the interstate. The light turned green, I pressed the gas and the car accelerated for a few seconds and the. The wheels quit spinning and the engine light lit up on the dash. I was in the road nearly being missed by other cars and I was only able to get my car out of the road by turning of the car and cranking it back to move a few feet repeatedly until I reached a side road. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11366188, filed 2020-10, 194,667 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Coolant loss, overheating and catalytic converter faults

   Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe low coolant levels after refilling, coolant leaks traced to the radiator and then unable to be located, and check engine lights with codes indicating a converter efficiency fault. Some had the catalytic converter replaced, in some cases under a recall, and later saw the same code or the engine running hot again. Most often reported from around 30,000 miles up into the 100,000-200,000 mile range.

   5 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the coolant level and look for residue around the radiator and hoses before and after a test drive. Ask whether the catalytic converter or emissions recall work has been completed and whether any P0420-type code is present.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Patriot. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lagged and hesitated before accelerating. There was also rough idling while stopped at a stoplight with an abnormal grinding sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle stalled intermittently on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer but was not yet diagnosed. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11420823, filed 2021-06, 101,858 miles

   “The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Patriot. The contact stated that the check engine warning light illuminated and remained illuminated. The contact performed a diagnostic test on the vehicle himself and retrieved failure code: p0420 catalytic system efficiency below threshold. The catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 109,057.”

   NHTSA complaint #11354054, filed 2020-09, 109,057 miles
5. 5
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light and deployment concerns

   • 56 complaints (12%)
   • median 31,150 mi at 3.1 yrs old (30 state mileage)
   • 19 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2026

   Complaints describe the airbag warning light coming on intermittently or staying on, with one owner told it was related to a passenger seat sensor, which affects whether the passenger airbag will deploy. A few owners report airbags deploying improperly or with excessive powder and smoke after a collision, and one reports a headrest detaching. Reported across a wide range, from under 20,000 miles to around 100,000.

   What to check: Turn the key to the run position and confirm the airbag light goes out after the bulb check, and have the passenger seat occupancy sensor checked if the light stays on or flickers.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The airbag light illuminated once in 2017. Then it went off and came back on 4 years later. On january 15, 2021 it came on about 20 times. And then all weekend. I was told by my dealer it was a sensor in the passenger seat. In this case the passenger side doesn't have a fully operational passenger side airbag. This is a huge safety concern, as someone could get hurt or possibly killed. The vehicle was in motion on all accounts on city streets.”

   NHTSA complaint #11388761, filed 2021-01, 99,736 miles

   “Hello . My wife was involved in car accident . She was in her 2016 Jeep Patriot. Which the accident was pretty big. Which caused airbags to deploy. Airbag from steering wheel didn't deploy properly and also the airbag from the dashboard on passenger side. The airbags released a lot of white powder and smoke which made her have a hard time breathing. She is in the hospital now due to the lack of help from the airbag and also inhaling the substance from the airbag”

   NHTSA complaint #11377824, filed 2020-12, 21,000 miles

Buying note. Complaints on this model year concentrate on stalling and throttle hesitation, so a thorough test drive at highway and stop-and-go speeds, plus a scan for stored codes, is worthwhile. Ask specifically whether crankshaft sensor recall 16V907000 applies to the vehicle's build date, and check that the airbag warning light behaves normally.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.